Map Collection
The State Library has many maps which are found in our southwest, Federal government, and state government collections. You can search our catalog for maps but many have not been cataloged yet, so please ask a librarian for assistance.
USGS Topographical Maps
The State Library has a large collection of Federal topographic maps issued by the US Geological Survey. This collection does not circulate and must be used in the library.
- The New Mexico collection includes a number of historical topos in addition to the current editions.
- The Four corners region collection also includes some historical topos in addition to the current editions.
- We also have a 2005 edition collection for the remaining states in the United States.
An ever increasing number of historic topographic maps are being added to the USGS National Map website. High resolution scans of more than 200,000 historical maps, some dating as far back as 1884, are now available online. All scales and editions are available as a georeferenced digital download or as a printed copy form the USGS Store.
Digital topographic maps for New Mexico, arranged in the traditional 7.5 minute quadrangle format, are now available. Click on "Download Maps (map store)" to be taken to a map interface where you can either zoom in to the area you are interested in or do a word search for a particular quad in the state.
National Forest, Park and Trail Maps
Find information about the recreational uses, trails, roads, streams, lakes, visitor centers, facilities available, campgrounds and picnic areas on maps produced by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the US Forest Service. These maps may be used in the library only, but they are also for sale on the Public Lands Information Center website and some may be available free from the Forest Service website.
Census Maps
In addition to Census maps for 2000 and LandView products on CD-Rom, the State Library has a collection of full sized block and tract maps for the 2000 and 1990 Census. Block maps for 1980 are available on microfiche.
You may also digitally explore the data gathered as part of the 2010 census.
Sanborn Maps
Dating from 1884 through the 1950's, the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps offer comprehensive information about commericial, industrial, and residential sections of cities and towns throughout New Mexico. The maps are available on microfilm or on the Sanborn Map database, both must be viewed in the library. Copyright restrictions prevent librarians from making copies of entire maps.
Historic Maps
There are many historic maps in the State Library collections. All historic materials, including maps, must be used in the library. Please ask a librarian to see if we have a paper copy of the map you are interested in seeing and we will make arrangements for you to view the map when you visit.
Many historic maps of New Mexico have been digitized.
New Mexico Humanities Council / Atlas of Historic Maps
Chavez Library Maps - UNM Digital Collections